Ohio Cities Emerge As ‘Builders’ In Solar Energy Use

CLEVELAND, OH – While Ohio is not on the cutting of solar energy adoption and consumption, the state’s three biggest cities – Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati – are emerging as “solar builders,” according to an advocacy organization.

Environment Maryland, a citizen-based advocacy project of Environment America, this week released the report, “Shining Cites: How Smart Local Policies Are Expanding Solar Power in America.” In the report, the organization finds that the United States now has more than 53 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity installed, which could keep the lights on for more than 10 million homes, according to the report.

That’s enough to power one in 14 American homes. And, that’s also 26 times more capacity than in 2010. Twenty cities accounted for more than 4 percent of the country’s total installed PV capacity, the report said. Geographically, those cities represent just 0.1 percent of America’s total landmass.